Teeth cleaning device



Dec. 19, 1933. w LQCKWOQD 1,939,996

TEETH CLEANING DEV ICE Filed April 16. 1931 {I \\\\\fl :L---jj Lee 11 Lockwood Patented Dec. 19, 1933 f lf lrm 1,939,996 TEETH CLEANING DEVICE Lee W. Lockwood, Minneapolis, 7 Application April 16, 1931. Serial No. 530,479

" 1 Claim. (01. 15-167) My invention relates to teeth cleaning devices and has for an object to provide a device which is particularly adapted to clean dentures and particularly artificial teeth formed with looped clasps or'similar attaching members.

An object of the invention resides in providing a device which maybe used forcleaning all of the parts of dentures and artificial teeth of any nature.

clasp for the purpose of cleaning the interior thereof; r 7

An object of the invention resides in providing a handle including a brush having ahead and an elongated portion connected therewith and issuing outwardly from said handle. 1 r

Another object of the invention resides in providing a second brush issuing outwardly from said handle and extending at an angle to the elongated portion of said first named brush.

An object of the invention resides in causing both of the brushes to issue from the handle at the same locality.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing the second named brush with a portion adapted to overlie a portion of the first named brush and adapted to receive lateral support therefrom.

A feature of the invention resides in constructing the first named brush with a looped head and two elongated portions connected therewith, said portions each having a shank and in constructing said second named brush with a shank, the shanks 35 of both of the brushes all being disposed in parallel relation with said handle.

An object of the invention resides in disposing the shanks of the first named brush in close U proximity to one another and in arranging the 4 shank of the second named brush between said other shanks to cause a portion of said second.

named brush to overlie a part of one of the elongated portions of said first named brush whereby lateral support for the second named brush is had' from the first named brush.

Other objects of'the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a brush illustrating an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the struc- H ture shown in Fig. 1. V Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan sectional view of a Another object of the invention resides in pro-, viding a brush capable of being run through the.

portion of the brush shown in Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryelevational sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 3. I

1 In thecleaning of artificial teeth, particularly removable bridges andsimilar dentures having clasps forthe attachment of the teeth to the natural teeth considerable 'difliculty is encounter ed in scouring and cleaning the clasps and par-- ticularly upon the interior thereof. The present invention forms a simple and practical device whereby'such'parts of artificial teeth may be readily cleaned as .well as the teeth themselves.

My invention proper comprises two brushes 10 and 11, both secured to a handle 12'and adapted to function as will be presently explained.

The handle 12 may be of any desired construction. The handle'shown is constructed withan' outer case or shell 13 which is elongated in form and is formed with an inner bore or cavity 14. This shell may be constructed of celluloid, bakelite or some other suitable material which is not effected by water and which will give suflicient rigidity to the brush. The shell 13 may be constructed with'a rib 15 extending longitudinally thereof, which is formed integral therewith. In addition, a ferrule 16 is provided which may be formed integral with said shell or constructed as a separate part adapted to fit about the end of the shell as shown. The rib 15 assists the user in firmly holding the device while using the same and the ferrule 16 serves the usual function, namely, reinforcing the handle at the endthereof. The brush 10 is of these. called twistedwire type and is formed with a body portion 21 which comprises a core 17 formed with two strands of wire 18 and 19 twisted together and provided with bristles 20, held in place between the convolutions of said wire. The bristles 20 may be formed of the usual material and the strands 18 and 19 of the core are preferably constructed of a suitablywater resistant material or a metal coated or otherwise treated to prevent rust or corrosion. The bodyl21 of brush 10 is preferably formed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and includes a head 22 bent in the form ofa loop. Two elongated portions 23 and 24 issue outwardly from the loop 22 and lie adjacent one another. The extreme ends of the core 17, which are indicated at 25 and 26 are free from bristles and form shanks whereby the brush 10 may be attached to the handle 12.

The brush 11 is of the same type, as brush 10 and consists of a core 2'7 formed of'two strands r 28 and 29 of twisted wire and supporting bristles A EN Q F CE l the core 17. The strands 28 and 29 are preferably constructed of the same piece of wire doubled back upon itself so that the extreme end of the core 27 is formed with a loop indicated at 31, free from out edges or sharp corners. Such construction prevents injury to the articles upon which the brush is used, which might result from the protrusion of the core beyond the end of the brush were sharp corners left. upon the same. The other end of the core 2'7 of. this brush, which is indicated at 32, is free from bristles and is adapted to be inserted into the handle 12 and attached thereto. The brush 27' is bent at substantially right angles to the shank 32 so that the same projects outwardly of the handle at an angle with respectthereto.

In the mounting of the two brushes 10 and 11 in the handle 12, any suitable plastic or molten material such as sulphur or a suitable cement is placed within the cavity 14 of the shell 15 of handle 12. "The ferrule 16 is next placed over the three shanks 25, 26 and 32 to hold the same shanks in proper relation to one another, In the arrangement of the shanks, the two shanks '25 and 26 are disposed adjacent one another and the shank 32 arranged in overlying position between said other two shanks, with the brush 11 projecting outwardly from the brush l0 and with a portion thereof overlying the portion 24 of the brush 21. The two brushes with the three shanks thereof in proper position are then insorted into the molten or plastic material in the handle 12,,which i s-allowed to set and so as to' firmly hold the parts attached to the handle. In the disposition of the two brushes, the bristles thereof engage one another and the shanks of said brushes so that the brush 10 lends lateral support to the brush 1- 1; This helps stiffen the brush and prevents said brush from becoming loosened due to the application of lateral pressure thereto. Y

In the use of the device, the brush 10 is used for cleaning plates or complete dentures and the individual teeth thereof. The head 22 is used for cleaning the inner surfaces of the teeth and the straight portions 23 and 24 are used for cleaning the outer surfaces of the teeth, and such portldns thereof as cannot be reached by the head 22. The brush 11 is used for cleaning the clasps of'reinovable dentures such as bridges and similar restorations. This brush may be run directly through the clasps and thereby serves to clean portions thereof which have heretofore been found difficult to clean. The brush 11 may also be used for cleaning the gum cavities of dental plates and for cleaning various portions of dentures not readily accessible by devices previously utilized for the purpose. Changes in the specific form of my invention as hereindisclosed may be made within the scope of what isclaimed, Without departing from the spirit: of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

In combination, an elongated handle, a brush structure carried thereby and including an elongated portion issuing outwardly from said handle,

and extending longitudinally thereof, and a lateral portion elongated in form extending transversely of said elongated portion and having its axis offset from the axis of said elongated portion to form a reentrant angle between the brushing surfaces of the two portions of the brush structure for simultaneously brushing the occlusal and buccal surfaces of a set of teeth. 7

- LEE W. LOCKWOOD. 

